Today, we will celebrate the Young Women of Achievement Awards (YWA), an annual event that recognizes the accomplishments of young, pro-choice, Democratic women in the D.C. area. Here are this year’s nominees.

I believe my purpose in life is to assist in the development, healing and empowerment of young girls, women and the LGBTQ community to reconcile their sexuality (sexual trauma/assault, sexual orientation, sexual expression) with their spirituality (morality, creator, divine, purpose in life).

In 2008 I launched the website www.StopStreetHarassment.org where people around the world share their stories. I now have 15 correspondents who write monthly articles about the issue from seven countries.

When I stumbled into the world of politics and policy after law school I was surprised to see the dearth of women. In particular, there was lack of African American and multiracial women in elected office or even working on the issues that affected women and minorities the most.

When I came to the labor movement it wasn’t just because I had an opportunity to try something different. The appeal was in working with a bottom-up union that allowed me the connectivity to the kind of people I knew best.